THE FUNCTIONS

OF
CODE SWITCHING
IN
ELT CLASSROOMS
-BY OLCAY SERT
CODE-SWITCHING

• Numan and Carter briefly define the term as “a

phenomenon of switching from one language to
another in the same discourse” (2001:275).
• Discourse will be handled as the students and
teachers naturally occurring language use in
classroom setting
CODE SWITCHING IN A
BILINGUAL COMMUNITY
• According to Trudgill, “speakers switch to manipulate
or influence or define the situation as they wish, and to
convey nuances of meaning and personal intention”
(2000:105).
• It may be used in order to build intimate interpersonal
relationships among members of a bilingual
community
FUNCTIONS OF TEACHERS’
CODE SWITCHING
• The teacher alters his/her language according to the
topic that is under discussion.
• The phenomenon also carries affective functions that
serve for expression of emotions
• The functionality of code switching in classroom
settings is its repetitive function
THE FUNCTIONS OF
STUDENTS’ CODE SWITCHING
• Equivalence - use of the native equivalent of a certain lexical item
• Floor-holding- the students fill the stopgap with native language
use
• Reiteration - the message in target language is repeated by the
student in native tongue through which the learner tries to give
the meaning by making use of a repetition technique
DISCUSSION ON THE USE OF
CODE SWITCHING IN
LANGUAGE CLASSROOM
• Many teacher's who are in favor of the application of communicative
techniques in language teaching environment opposed any form of native
language use during classroom instruction.
• Cook( 2002:333) application of code switching in classes which do not share
the same native language may create problems as some of the students
• Skiba( 1997) suggests that in the circumstances where code switching is
used due to inability of expression , serves for continuity in speech and
serves a s a supporting element in communication of information and in
social interaction as is used as a communicating tool.
CONCLUSION
1. It may be suggested that code switching in language classroom
is not always a blockage or deficiency in learning a language,
but may be considered as a useful strategy in classroom
interaction, if the aim is to make meaning clear and to transfer
the knowledge to students in an efficient way.
2. It should be kept in mind that in long term, when the students
experience interaction with the native speakers of the target
language; code switching may be a barrier which prevents
mutual intelligibility.